Snowmobiling blues...

[nm9stheham]

Great stuff! Is your wife lighter than you? Just small differences will make it better or worse. My son and I got into some suuuuper fine powder down in a deep draw and under some trees (where the snow would just lightly 'settle in'), and my heavier dual was better than his single. It was just the 16" longer and 1" wider track on my dual that made the difference. Off-trail is quite a different animal.... we want to do more, and my son's got a longer track kit that we have yet to install.

 

[j par]

Great stuff! Is your wife lighter than you? Just small differences will make it better or worse. My son and I got into some suuuuper fine powder down in a deep draw and under some trees (where the snow would just lightly 'settle in'), and my heavier dual was better than his single. It was just the 16" longer and 1" wider track on my dual that made the difference. Off-trail is quite a different animal.... we want to do more, and my son's got a longer track kit that we have yet to install.

Yes my wife is lighter than me but also hers is a little more Snappyer LOL. They're identical machines for the most part besides color. Hers is a 153 and mine is a 162. Then both having the same motor. Out on the trail hers is a lot faster and snappier and for goodness sakes I get on hers after riding mine and punch it and look at the sky! LOL you can imagine what would happen if we could all move our rear wheels 6 in forward LOL...

 

[j par]

Wanna go fast?...

 

[318willrun]

they have H2o races, 500 ft grass drags in the round about areas here in the summer.

Our local 1000 ft ice drags in the winter (usually takes between 145 - 150 mph for fastest pro mod class), and of course, an occasionally asphalt runner at the drag way. The ones I've seen in person have gone as fast as low 9's, but lot's of them are faster out there. Most people run their trail sleds at all these events, some have a purposed sled.

My '98 Formula Z 670 all stock ran 90 mph in the 1000 ft radar run on ice, but I didn't have picks so traction was somewhat of an issue the whole way down.

 

[j par]

Snowmobiling Yahoo yesterday!!!
The drive up...

My wife wanted to stop up at the lookout. It's an fire lookout that's rentable. I've been up there before and it's a really cool cabin with a wood stove and a trolley system to bring the wood up. You can only imagine the panoramic views out the windows 360 around the place up there.

of course since I'm doing the camera work my wife gets all the pictures taken of her LOL.. she seems to be happy at our first stop here...

On the way back down from there I had to stop and take this picture... I know the camera just doesn't capture what's really there in the quietness and everything...

On our way over to Timothy Lake damn we seen this trail that had been groomed a couple days previous and had a fresh foot of snow on it. I felt obligated we should put the first tracks in it! LOL

Onward to the Timothy Lake damn where we like to take a break and take in the views...
The lake...

The Damn...

 

[j par]

Backside of the Damn...
It wouldn't let me load any more photos on that first post I guess..

And locked and loaded and on the way home...

 

[Tooljunkie]

Just wondering if there is going to be ice drags this year.
Imagine a thundercat on nos.
It kabooms every year.
Pretty cool to see a machine get so squirrely at 80 mph.
Last time i watched, the top speed was 226kph /140 mph
Twin turbo yammie was the top gun...

 

[j par]

Just wondering if there is going to be ice drags this year.
Imagine a thundercat on nos.
It kabooms every year.
Pretty cool to see a machine get so squirrely at 80 mph.
Last time i watched, the top speed was 226kph /140 mph
Twin turbo yammie was the top gun...

It seems like any major events are in Idaho or further east. This is what I like about back east or Midwest there's so much more snowmobile activity. Also many more TV programs and such dedicated to the sport. Most of the knowledge of any events I get through Reading American snowmobiler Magazine. I know I was easily racing through the woods at 70 plus miles per hour our sleds aren't set up for Speed with the super long deep tracks. Ours are more set up for torque for getting up steap hills in the Deep. Myself instead of a Ultra best turbo I would preferred the maneuverability and performance of the new Alpha One. either that or one day I may want to try a timbersled..

 

[nm9stheham]

On our way to Maine today ... Darned if the truck did not throw a terminal fault code on the DEF system 1hour out of town.

 

[j par]

On our way to Maine today ... Darned if the truck did not throw a terminal fault code on the DEF system 1hour out of town.

Damn it! I hear so many good things about Maine and snowmobiling. Whole communities waiting for the snowmobilers to come and enjoy their hospitality! One day....

 

[nm9stheham]

I was afraid to say anything and this post still might jinx us, BUT the nearby Dodge dealer had the part. It was a failed NOx sensor and interface module... apparently anything emissions related will stimulate a DEF message in the dash display and give you 150 miles of driving pleasure before it goes to a 5 mph maximum limp mode. They cleared it all up, and we got to NE PA last night. Now cruising past Boston and should land in the hotel in Maine by 7-8 PM. 5-8 inches for tomorrow while we get out, then it turns decently cold for several days next week

Thanks for your well wishes! I am finally starting to think this will happen...

 

[j par]

I was afraid to say anything and this post still might jinx us, BUT the nearby Dodge dealer had the part. It was a failed NOx sensor and interface module... apparently anything emissions related will stimulate a DEF message in the dash display and give you 150 miles of driving pleasure before it goes to a 5 mph maximum limp mode. They cleared it all up, and we got to NE PA last night. Now cruising past Boston and should land in the hotel in Maine by 7-8 PM. 5-8 inches for tomorrow while we get out, then it turns decently cold for several days next week

Thanks for your well wishes! I am finally starting to think this will happen...

Oh man I'm excited for you! Please post some pictures! Thank you for sharing...

 

[j par]

Just started snowing big flakes here end they're expecting four or five feet more up at Mount Hood! Hopefully we'll have a good second half of the seasons..

 

[nm9stheham]

We made it! Been here for a few days in Maine. Rode the roughest rtrails we've ever been on over in the western part.... took 7.5 hours to cover 100 miles on Wed....what a workout.

Now at Moosehead Lake.... great trails. Came across 8 young ladies cross-county skiing and off their trail by 10 miles. Helped them get some help to get to the cabms they were trying to reach.

Crossed a lake 2-3 miles long on solid ice. Ice up here is reportedly 4' thick at this time.... snowmobile open range!

Some pix: A long view shot of the Lake (it's gotta be at least 30 miles long) and mountains and then coming off the ice this evening:

 

[j par]

We made it! Been here for a few days in Maine. Rode the roughest rtrails we've ever been on over in the western part.... took 7.5 hours to cover 100 miles on Wed....what a workout.

Now at Moosehead Lake.... great trails. Came across 8 young ladies cross-county skiing and off their trail by 10 miles. Helped them get some help to get to the cabms they were trying to reach.

Crossed a lake 2-3 miles long on solid ice. Ice up here is reportedly 4' thick at this time.... snowmobile open range!

Some pix: A long view shot of the Lake (it's gotta be at least 30 miles long) and mountains and then coming off the ice this evening:

View attachment 1715296341

View attachment 1715296342

Totally cool, I love those like shots. I've only been on a lake one time that was frozen and it had about a foot and a half of powder on top of that and our long sleds just loved it. It was so much fun. I know one day I'm going to have to get my wife a nicer Trail sled because she really doesn't use the mountain sled as it should be. She exclusively stays on the trail so I could see this coming in the future. Again thank you so much for sharing the pictures and the story also..
Our plan is to go back up to mount head on Monday but we'll see...

 

[nm9stheham]

If you know what you are doing, and the lake is cleared of snow, some guys go crazy on the ice. Not us..... there is 1-2' of snow on the lakes here and it is packed and sculpted into some pretty hard drifts. We're taking it easy and staying away from shore except where we know it is good.

More pix today; the first is from Moosehead Lake proper. We are out on just one of the many bays, and you can see how big just that bay is. I looked it up and the lake is 118 sq miles in size!

Then my son caught both my wife and myself taking pix.... tourists LOL

My son and I went riding later and turned back.... we did not want to navigate back down thus huge lake with no marked trail and not having been on much of it and trying to find out way in twilight or after dark. So we took trails back and got a great shot of the twilight over the northwoods just as we crossed the last 3 mile long 'pond' heading to the rental house. It's been 2 very beautiful days here.

 

[nm9stheham]

Totally cool, I love those like shots. I've only been on a lake one time that was frozen and it had about a foot and a half of powder on top of that and our long sleds just loved it. It was so much fun. I know one day I'm going to have to get my wife a nicer Trail sled because she really doesn't use the mountain sled as it should be. She exclusively stays on the trail so I could see this coming in the future. Again thank you so much for sharing the pictures and the story also..
Our plan is to go back up to mount head on Monday but we'll see...

For now, I am good with trails too. 65 years old and don't have the strength to repeatedly dig out of deep stuff anymore. And we are just amateurs. I was looking at the photos above of your sleds and spotted the tall spindles in the front suspension. Those must be great over rough stuff. So what would you want different for your wife? Just shorter and easier to maneuver?

I adjusted my front spring perches today....never really looked at them but finally saw that the springs were barely touching the top perches when I was not on the sled. So that was that rattling noise! Holy cow... I have real steering now LOL. Before, it wanted to push out on the corners if I pushed at all; the inner ski must have just been floating with no pressure on it and I was losing half of my side bite. Not sure why it was set up that way....It's like a new sled LOL

 

[j par]

For now, I am good with trails too. 65 years old and don't have the strength to repeatedly dig out of deep stuff anymore. And we are just amateurs. I was looking at the photos above of your sleds and spotted the tall spindles in the front suspension. Those must be great over rough stuff. So what would you want different for your wife? Just shorter and easier to maneuver?

I adjusted my front spring perches today....never really looked at them but finally saw that the springs were barely touching the top perches when I was not on the sled. So that was that rattling noise! Holy cow... I have real steering now LOL. Before, it wanted to push out on the corners if I pushed at all; the inner ski must have just been floating with no pressure on it and I was losing half of my side bite. Not sure why it was set up that way....It's like a new sled LOL

First and foremost my wife's leg is way too fast for her and it's extremely touchy. For me I'm an acceleration junkie and absolutely love it! Initially I didn't want her to have any disadvantage. But actually having such a high powered sled is a disadvantage to her. I'd give her a little bit more of a trail sled and the sense of a little bit wider ski stance and a shorter not so aggressive track. Something that rides like it's on Rails and Corners well. Something I'd check for definitely is your car bites on the bottom of the skis. If they went over too many roads and things like that those blades start to wear and your steering goes quickly. I found this out with an old sled that I had and I mean you could crank the wheel and it would not even try to turn unless you leaned on it. And even then it wasn't great. I bought new carbides blades for the bottoms of the skis and it was the new animal... Something to check and they're not real expensive or hard to change. Width 162 in track with three in paddles it doesn't get stuck too easily, but you just roll it out of the hole and jump back on and go..

 

[j par]

If you know what you are doing, and the lake is cleared of snow, some guys go crazy on the ice. Not us..... there is 1-2' of snow on the lakes here and it is packed and sculpted into some pretty hard drifts. We're taking it easy and staying away from shore except where we know it is good.

More pix today; the first is from Moosehead Lake proper. We are out on just one of the many bays, and you can see how big just that bay is. I looked it up and the lake is 118 sq miles in size!
View attachment 1715296849
Then my son caught both my wife and myself taking pix.... tourists LOL
View attachment 1715296850

My son and I went riding later and turned back.... we did not want to navigate back down thus huge lake with no marked trail and not having been on much of it and trying to find out way in twilight or after dark. So we took trails back and got a great shot of the twilight over the northwoods just as we crossed the last 3 mile long 'pond' heading to the rental house. It's been 2 very beautiful days here.
View attachment 1715296851

Totally awesome pictures thank you for sharing!

 

[nm9stheham]

Understood on the skags (carbides)..... this sled steered poorly from brand new last year, so it's not that. And we never have been on pavement 'til this trip.

But being a rookie, I just did not know HOW it should steer; I just figured it was a heavy 2 place sled that was not supposed to be great in the turns. The spring perches must have been set high 'for that boulevard ride' LOL. This is a 2 seat Grand Touring sled so they must have thought I would want it 'soft'. It is a new sled now!

162".... dang that is long!

 

[j par]

Well getting to the end of the season and we were able to go out on another very Bluebird day. We were the only ones in the parking lot and the only ones on the trails. Didn't see another Soul the whole day. I'm not sure how many more rides were going to get and turn the thread from snowmobiling Yahoo's back into snowmobiling Blues LOL.

 

[nm9stheham]

Man, that is great.... you're making me more and more want to retire part time out in the Northern Rockies. Been looking at an area 20 miles east of Togwotee Pass in WY......

 

[j par]

Man, that is great.... you're making me more and more want to retire part time out in the Northern Rockies. Been looking at an area 20 miles east of Togwotee Pass in WY......

my wife and I keep talking about going to Wyoming one of these times for snowmobiling cuz we see so much cool stuff there. Especially going and snowmobiling with the Bison at Yellowston! unfortunately I've only been across Wyoming on the interstate in the middle of summer and it just hot dry and endless, but I know there's beautiful places there..

 

[nm9stheham]

Well..... no snowmobling with the bison at Yellowstone LOL. You have to get one of the self-guided 4 passes issued each day (one at each of the 4 entrances each day), or ride with an escort (reeeeally boring). And in winter the bison 98% move to lower levels, mostly on the north end of the Park. We had a self-guided pass for 2 days last season.... We went down the east side, and the best scene was the Yellowstone Falls all frozen up. he rest was mostly lots of long miles droning along at a 35 mph speed limit and little in the way of game; it was kinda boring. It would have been better to go down the west side where the big geyser sites are, but we all came down with the flu on day 2 LOL and missed that. Summer was honestly better in Yellowstone..

Now Togwotee Pass in Wy and Island Park ID are great. We spent 2 days at Togwotee and just scratched the surface of the trails, never mind the off-trail riding. Elevations of 8000' to well over 9000'. There is a lodge with gas station and restaurant right there and you ride right out of it onto the trails. We have not been to Island Park yet but the pix are pretty dramatic, tons of trails, and an average annual snowfall of close to 200".

We also spent 2 days in the Bighorns. Stayed in Sherdian WY at a nice motel where my wife could relax. Lot of trails, some of them pretty darned fast and some twisty. At the west end, there is a view where you can see across the central basin of WY and to the Absaroka Mtns which form the eastern rim of Yellowshone.... that is an 80-100 mile view.

 

[j par]

Well..... no snowmobling with the bison at Yellowstone LOL. You have to get one of the self-guided 4 passes issued each day (one at each of the 4 entrances each day), or ride with an escort (reeeeally boring). And in winter the bison 98% move to lower levels, mostly on the north end of the Park. We had a self-guided pass for 2 days last season.... We went down the east side, and the best scene was the Yellowstone Falls all frozen up. he rest was mostly lots of long miles droning along at a 35 mph speed limit and little in the way of game; it was kinda boring. It would have been better to go down the west side where the big geyser sites are, but we all came down with the flu on day 2 LOL and missed that. Summer was honestly better in Yellowstone..

Now Togwotee Pass in Wy and Island Park ID are great. We spent 2 days at Togwotee and just scratched the surface of the trails, never mind the off-trail riding. Elevations of 8000' to well over 9000'. There is a lodge with gas station and restaurant right there and you ride right out of it onto the trails. We have not been to Island Park yet but the pix are pretty dramatic, tons of trails, and an average annual snowfall of close to 200".

We also spent 2 days in the Bighorns. Stayed in Sherdian WY at a nice motel where my wife could relax. Lot of trails, some of them pretty darned fast and some twisty. At the west end, there is a view where you can see across the central basin of WY and to the Absaroka Mtns which form the eastern rim of Yellowshone.... that is an 80-100 mile view.

THAT! is the kind of incredible stuff that we hear about in Wyoming and the videos we're able to look up are just amazing and keep us transfixed for quite an amount of time watching videos..